I confess, I have used Vim to clean my sink. I try to use only all-natural cleaners and I love the power of baking soda and vinegar, but I always returned to the ease of lemon-scented Vim – until now.
Guests on Earth is a cool new company (it launched in March) founded by Canadians Jackie Prince and Liz Drayton. During the pandemic, they were working from home and started noticing all the trash they were accumulating, namely plastics. Jackie did some research and discovered that only 9% of plastic is recycled. She started buying natural, eco products and they left her underwhelmed. “I realized there was an opportunity to approach this low-interest, under-the-sink category in a more enjoyable way,” she says.
And enjoyable it is. Firstly, there is the packaging: reusable aluminum vessels in the chicest shade of matte sage, and small-format refill formulas in sunny yellow aluminum containers (aluminum was chosen for its maximum recyclability). Then there is the scent. I always thought all-natural cleaners should be unscented (do not get me started on Unstopables and their stinky scented ilk), but not any more. I chose Desert Dawn, which they describe as a “citrusy oasis.” It has a subtle tangerine scent with hints of peppermint and cedar; it just smells clean. Dunes at Dusk is the other option, which is more calming and woodsy.
I love the reusable aspect of the brand too. “Our small-format refills mean that customers can create full-sized products from a fraction of the size and weight of traditional cleaning products,” says Jackie. “We ship empty vessels and refill concentrates that, when added with tap water, become full-sized products.”
There are plans for Guests on Earth Dish Soap, Glass and Window Cleaner and Laundry soap. Until then, I’m wiping with the microfibre waffle cloth (made from 80% recycled materials), foaming up the Hand Soap and getting my kitchen sink sparkling with the All-Purpose Cleaner (sorry, Vim).
